Chapter 417: No Hard Feelings

Chapter 417: No Hard Feelings

How can you say that? shouted Claire. Its an unusual talent to be able to hit the bass notes while being shrill enough to disturb dogs, but Claire had a gift. What are you even saying right now? She turned to me and waved me away. Ignore her, she doesnt mean it.

It felt a bit odd that Claire was this eager to step in like her drunk friend was trying to get off with the biggest scumbag at the nightclub. Actually, I guess it wasnt that odd.

I know what Im doing, said Jenny, very firmly. Im going with him.

As you may have noticed, no one was asking me what I thought about any of this.

No, you arent, said Claire, equally firmly.

The crowd around us were remarkably quiet as they watched the two girls throw down over the wisdom of going off with me, and indeed, getting off with me. I couldnt say for sure, but my guess would be that most of them were siding with Big Nose over Scarface. Mind you, I was naked, so their judgement was skewed by insider knowledge.

Much to my surprise, I was fine with their stares. This body was no more than a Tussauds wax statue as far as I was concerned absolutely nothing to do with the person it was modelled after (which is the main requirement at Madame Tussauds).

People seem to be fine with showing off their privates these days. Social media is full of people posting their junk and even videos of themselves shagging. Upvotes from strangers make them feel better. Maybe this was how it felt to have people look at you fully exposed and not feel horribly embarrassed. I had just sent my first dick pic, and thousands of people had received it without even owning a phone. Im a pioneer at heart.

Dont get involved, said Jenny. This is between me and him.

Im getting involved because you told us to, remember? Claire shot me a sideways glance, trying her best to exclude me from the debate. You said we werent to let you go off with him, no matter how much you begged us to let you.

It seemed Jenny had made some kind of werewolf pact with the others, where she told them to lock her in a room and not let her out until the full moon passed. I was the full moon in this scenario. Well, I was to fifty percent of the crowd.

Im not begging you, said Jenny.

Im not going to let you beg him, either, said Claire. They both looked over at me and grimaced.

I looked up at the spire looming dark and foreboding with a hole in its side and dust still falling. Ships were circling overhead. I really needed to get going, I said.

Dont move, said Jenny.

Shut up, said Claire.

Strong-willed women who speak their minds, who doesnt want to see more fo that? Those shows on TV where a bunch of women sit around a table and discuss the latest news and gossip in front of an audience of housewives with nothing better to do, quality broadcasting.

You said you would do this, said Claire, you said youd get weak and give in to your cravings, and we were to drag you away even if you fought us. You made us promise.

I was sort of flattered. Sort of, but not quite. A girl was so attracted to me she had to be held down so she wouldnt throw herself at my cock, but at the same time, clearly she was mental.

I dont care what I said, shouted Jenny, flailing her arms like someone was trying to get her into a straight jacket and she was doing her best to stop them. Hes empty carbs, I know that, but hes delicious. I dont care how fat I get.

Presumably, she was being metaphorical. If she wasnt, and this was her announcing her intention to let herself go and put on weight like a married woman living in a semi-detached in Croydon, I was going to have to politely decline the offer. Its not that Im shallow, I just dont want to live in Croydon with a fat chick.

The fairies hadnt moved in to break things up, and the people watching were fascinated, even the ones who were the walking dead, which just goes to show you how much enjoyment you can get out of other peoples problems.

I stole another look up at the spire. Where had Joshaya gone? I had expected him to come leaping down, and then Id be able to slip away in the chaos.

This is all your fault, said Claire. She was looking at me when she said it, but I was fairly confident she was referring to someone behind me.

How is it my fault? I agree with you.

You do? said Claire, not used to being told she was right. Like, ever.

Of course. Jennys much better off here, or anywhere that Im not. I expect to die at any moment, and shed only get in the way, I mean, get in harms way. I turned to Jenny. Once this is all sorted out and I come back, we can figure out what to do then. No point picking out new curtains while the walls are crumbling around us. A slab of stone hit the ground beside me and shattered. See?

I was at a loss to understand what I was being blamed for. Ive had enough of this. Wheres Flossie? I need a ride, for one. Youre staying here. Sometimes a man has to take a stand.

NO! yelled Jenny. A shockwave blew through the square, knocking everyone to the ground.

Everyone except for Jenny and me. And a tall guy with dead eyes.

Ah, Joshaya, I said, there you are, you insufferable fuck.

Jennys emotional outburst (women, huh?) had been strong enough to flatten even the dead. I, on the other hand, was far too numb to human emotions to be affected. And the only other person left standing had to be someone of immense power, although he was staggering a bit.

Where is your body? said Joshaya. Why climb down from the spire when you could just transfer to another body already down here? Give it to me.

His body is mine, said Jenny. She turned to me. Your body belongs to me. My body belongs to you. Thats how it works.

I felt I was getting the better deal. Whats so special about my body?

Its the only one that I want, thats what, said Jenny.

Really, you dont think you could find another one that would serve the same purpose?

No. The emotional backlash would kill anyone else.

This was a sexual thing? My body was the only one that could stand to be at ground zero when Jenny detonated?

What about this body? I said, holding my arms to the side.

I would shred it in a night, said Jenny, which was both appalling, and also quite tempting to test.

You are both vile, disgusting animals, said Joshaya. You deserve each other. Our union had received his blessing, apparently. But his body will be claimed by me.

Jenny and Joshaya both seemed determined to take possession of my body. Far more than Id ever wanted it.

Jenny began to glow around the head, like a halo. The face she was pulling wasnt very angelic, though.

Jenny, dont! called out Claire.

No one could move under the pressure of Jennys rage. Even I found it a little oppressive.

Joshaya, however, seemed to be withstanding it, even though he was facing it at near-point-blank range. Or this new host was. Or his puppet.

I left my body and everything froze, including Jennys out of control mood swings.

The undead soldier Joshaya had taken control of had a single vine sticking out of him, as all his avatars did. It rose high into the sky, lost among all the other vines.

I floated over and grabbed it, writhing and pulsing in my hands, and began pulling. Joshaya controlled his minions from afar. That was how he liked to do things, but Id seen his true form.

It took a while I always hated rope-climbing in PE but the vine came down slowly. I could have cut it, but that would just let Joshaya get away. The vine was quite thick and hard to get a good grip on, but I had the time.

Wrapping the vine around the soldier made it easier to stop it slipping out of my hands. Joshaya eventually came into view, a teeny tiny fairy desperately trying to fly the other way.

Once he was down to about eye-level, I let go and jumped back into my temporary body.

Time restarted, as did Jennys wrath. This time, Joshaya was directly in the firing line. He screamed and both he and the body he was controlling flew backwards. Jenny was sent flying in the other direction.

I was the last man standing, which meant it was the perfect time to do a runner. I turned and prepared to make for the nearest exit, but there was no way out. The ships that had been circling were all coming in to land.